ixTRDDrcriox 



It is l^elieved tliat sludeiits of western oniitliolo.^y will tliul use for a list 

 of the birds of California arranged in accordance with the most m )dern 

 views on classification. The following arrangement of our species will be 

 observed to depart widely from that presented in most of the current text- 

 I)Ooks. The majority of the latter in America are based upon the classifica- 

 tion adopted twenty-six years ago in the first edition of the American Orni- 

 thologists' Union Check-List of North American Birds. 



The system of grouping employed in the following pages is almost 

 identically that based chiefly uix)n Gadow ^ and presented by Knowlton -. 

 It is also very similar to that chosen by Ridgway in his latest systematic trea- 

 tise on North American birds •'. My allegiance to Knowlton's interpreta- 

 tion of the modern views of a\ian classification results from my belief, inso- 

 far as I have made inquiry and am able to judge, that he expresses most 

 faithfully the concensus of opinion of those systematists whose accomplish- 

 ments bring greatest confidence. Knowlton states his system to difTer from 

 Gadow's in certain minor modifications necessitated by "the later researches 

 of Pycraft, Beddard, D'Arcy-Thompson, Shufeldt, Ridgway, Lucas, and 

 (Hher well-known authorities." 



It is not for a moment to be inferred that 1 or anyone else believes that 

 anywhere nearly a perfect system of classification has been reached. But I 

 do maintain that it is anything but progressive to ignore the present attain- 

 ments in our knowledge of the affinities of animals, merely because such 

 recognition may entail some inconxenience resulting from the introduction 

 of new names. It should prove not only useful but stimulating to the earnest 

 student of our birds to have at hand an indication of modern views, even 

 though in a mere nominal list. 



The present list of si)ecies is extracted from a synDnyniic ami distribu- 

 tional treatment of the birds of California which 1 now have on file in manu- 

 script. It consists of the names of all species beliexed by the writer to 

 deser\-e inclusion u])on satisfactory grounds. That is, no birds of question- 

 able standing, such as is ordinarily termed hyj)othetical. are given consider- 

 ation. Wherein dififerences are obser\ed in specific or subspecific names 

 adopted, and in forms included or excluded, as compared with the latest 

 (1910) edition of the A. (). U. Check-List. I am wholly responsible. My 



(1) Gadow, Hans. 



1893. Vogel. 11. Systcnialischer Theil, pp. vii-f-304, in Scchsler r.and, Vicrte 

 Abtlieilung", Dr. H. G. Bnmn's Klassen uiul ( )r(lnnn.!Lien dcs 'rinijr-Rcichs (Leip- 

 zig-, C. F. Wintcr'sche Vcrlagshandhmg). 

 *^"-* Knowlton. Frank H. 



1909. Birds oi the World - - - "edited I)}- lxol)erl Ridgway" (Xew York, 

 Henry Holt and Company). IM^- .xiii+873, 16 col. pl^., 2M ills. 

 '■^^ Ridgway, Robert. 



1901-1911. Tlic l-.irds of North and ]\liddle America = P.ull. Xo. 50, U. S. National 

 Mnsemn (Washington, Government Printing Office), parts i-v. 



